lb NOTES ON A SPECIES OF SANDFLY 



a number of joints resembling pitchers, the base of each being 

 rounded, with a contracted neck, bearing on the lower part a 

 circlet of long curved hairs, projecting outwards. Each hair is 

 inserted into a socket, which, when the hair falls, appears as a 

 white cup-like depression. The first eight of these urn-shaped 

 joints resemble each other, but the last five differ, gradually 

 elongating and growing narrower. The terminal one is like a 

 minie rifle bullet. From the point projects a delicate cone, 

 evidently a sense organ, probably a taste bud. 



Between the antennse, but a little lower are the palpi, 

 a pair of organs consisting of four diflferently shaped joints, the 

 second peculiarly so, resembling a shoulder of mutton in minia- 

 ture, and on the fleshy part is a circular pit. In this are a 

 number of truncated cones, bearing little nucleated globes on 

 their ends. I have not seen anything like them delineated any- 

 where ; and it appears to me to be a delicate sensory apparatus, 

 for communicating sound waves, inaudible to the human ear. 



Between the palpi there springs the proboscis. It lies in 

 the median line. Externally it consists of a fleshy sheath, 

 terminating in two thick lips or flabella. They are slit on the 

 underside, and by certain muscles can be drawn back so as to 

 expose the lancets contained within. 



Like its sanquinary friend, the mosquito, it possesses an 

 armoury of six distinct lancets, but they are much thicker and 

 stronger comparatively. In use, the whole are combined 

 together, forming a stout weapon of offence, not unlike a broad- 

 sword. These lancets are paired, so that there are three groups, 

 of like nature. The two outermost are the maxillary lancets ; 

 these are attached to the facial plate which carries the palpi. In 

 dissection, the two generally come away together. These are 

 distinguished by their concave scythe-like blades, shaped so as 

 to fit over and clasp the inner lancets. From the point to a 

 space half-way down the organ is a row of large teeth, set like a 

 ripping saw, to enlarge the cut when they are withdrawn. Next 

 are the mandibles, much resembling a couple of carving knives. 

 One edge is thin, the other stouter. The end being broadly 

 lanceolate, one angle bemg tipped with small regular teeth, like 

 a tenon or surgeon's saw. These are easily recognised by having 

 a longitudinal slit, such as is made in the blade of a pocket 

 knife, for ease of opening. 



Still going inwards, the two central lancets of the group 

 are found. These are like a tube with a rounded end, split 

 lont^itudinally, and placed so as to form a hollow chamber. The 



